Know Your Enemy: Langham Creek Lobos

Week 4: Cypress Woods Wildcats (2-1) @ Langham Creek Lobos (3-0)
6:30 PM Thursday, October 5, 2017
Cy-Fair FCU Stadium

Photo by Billy Schuerman

Please take a little time to donate to hurricane relief in Puerto Rico. Carmelo Anthony and Carlos Beltran have set up separate relief funds to aid the rebuilding efforts. These are just two funds that you can donate to. In addition, Carlos Correa has teamed up with the Salvation Army for hurricane relief.

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

It was a happy Homecoming for the Wildcats as they topped Jersey Village 42-35. In the process, they matched their win total from 2016 and recorded their first win over the Falcons since 2012.

Bobby Dodson ran for 146 yards and a touchdown, while Jack Barrientez threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Cullen Sherrill, scored twice on the ground, and added five tackles on defense. Clancey Hall and Mac Bird both recorded 10 tackles.

Week 6 presents the Wildcats with their toughest test to date.

The Enemy: Langham Creek Lobos

2016 record: 8-4, 6-3 (4th) in District 17-6A
Lost 29-21 to Cinco Ranch in Area round of 6A Division II, Region III playoffs

Cy Ridge took a 28-6 lead on the Lobos with 11:33 in the third quarter... and then Langham proceeded to outscore them 40-0 the rest of the way to come out with the 46-28 victory. The Lobos capitalized on 5 Rams turnovers, most of which came in the second half.

Langham Creek has won their first three games of 2017; they topped Cy Creek 45-26 to open the year and then dominated Cy Falls 38-12.

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-4.

Previous Meetings


September 29, 2016: Langham 62, Woods 35
October 16, 2015: Woods 48, Langham 33
October 17, 2014: Langham 55, Woods 31 (Homecoming VII)
September 13, 2013: Langham 48, Woods 20
September 14, 2012: Langham 32, Woods 31 (Homecoming V)
October 14, 2011: Woods 50, Langham 44
October 15, 2010: Woods 55, Langham 27 (Homecoming III)
October 31, 2009: Woods 42, Langham 7
November 1, 2008: Woods 58, Langham 20

Players to Watch

QB Chris Herron, RB Chris Mehn, WR Golden Eke, OL Owen Okonsky, DB Corien Azema, DB Darren Woodson, LB Brad Pinkerton, DL Ernest Thomas

2¢ on Langham

The Lobos begin life without Toneil Carter, who is arguably the greatest player in their program's history. Nevertheless, they still have plenty of weapons at their disposal, most notably their starting backfield.

Chris Mehn averaged 10 yards per carry as Carter's backup last season. This year, he's merely averaging 9 yards per rushing attempt, so he's regressed somewhat. All joking aside, Mehn is a legit home run threat. Chris Herron ran roughshod on the Cats last season and he is coming off a game in which he ran for 181 yards and 5 touchdowns. He'll sling the ball to Golden Eke and Devin Lawrence, but he can really inflict damage with his feet. Owen Okonsky, a first-team All-District selection last season, will anchor the Lobos' offensive line.

Corien Azema had a fine sophomore season in which he earned second-team All-District honors as a linebacker. He's moved over to the secondary, where he'll team up with Darren Woodson and Mauricio Alvarado. Brad Pinkerton and Jermaine Wright lead the linebackers, but D.J. Harris and Chase Hanks have busted onto the scene by going 1-2 in tackles through the first third of the season. Ernest Thomas has seized a starting spot in the trenches as a sophomore; the Lobos are expecting big things from this young lineman.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

The Lobos forced five Cy Woods turnovers, put up 42 points at halftime, and cruised to a 62-35 victory. Jacob Kainer threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

JV plays at Woods, while the freshmen will travel to Langham Creek. Game times are 5:00 and 7:00 on Wednesday.

Location of Langham Creek High School

Cy Woods 42, Jersey Village 35: Happy Homecoming.

2017 Record: 2-1

Photo by Tom Dendy

Arkievrick Vitatoe beats the last Jersey Village defender for a 48-yard touchdown run.

Here is the photo gallery from this week, including the freshman games against Jersey Village and the Homecoming Parade, courtesy of Tom Dendy.

Also, please take a little time to donate to hurricane relief in Puerto Rico. Carmelo Anthony and Carlos Beltran have set up separate relief funds to help spur the rebuilding efforts.

Happy Homecoming, Wildcats.

Cy Woods held off the Jersey Village Falcons and came away with a 42-35 victory on Homecoming Friday at the Berry Center. The Cats also earned their first victory over the Falcons since the 2012 season finale, snapping a four-game losing streak to JV in the process.

Strong response from this team after they dropped their season opener in disappointing fashion. Also safe to say that Cy Woods is in the thick of the District 17-6A playoff race as the first third of the season comes to a close. Now, the push really begins with a tough test against Langham Creek looming.

As the offense begins to get comfortable with its new system, we are starting to see them rattle off more and more explosive plays, which was lacking in the first game.

Scoring Summary

The Falcons wasted little time in opening the scoring; they marched right down the field and Tre Richardson finished it with a 6-yard touchdown run. Cy Woods responded with a 12-play drive capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run from Bobby Dodson. After the defense forced a punt, Dallas Caldwell broke off a 28-yard run to start the Cats' next drive and one play later, Arkievrick Vitatoe slashed his way through the Jersey Village defense for a 48-yard touchdown run.

End of 1st Quarter: Woods 14, JV 7

Jack Barrientez and Kendon Flowers scored on two runs for their respective teams in the second quarter: Jack scored from 14 and 7 yards out, while Flowers scored from 7 and found the end zone again from a yard out right before halftime.

Halftime: Woods 28, JV 21

Jersey Village took control in the third quarter with two touchdowns in a 19-second span. Richardson scored from 4 yards out to tie the game at 28. After the Wildcats lost the ball on the ensuing kickoff, Richardson connected with a wide-open John Gilbert for a 16-yard touchdown pass. The Cats had the ball to end the quarter, but they faced a fourth down after Jackson got sacked.

End of 3rd Quarter: JV 35, Woods 28

On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Cats busted out the old halfback pass, and it worked like a charm as Jack Barrientez found Cullen Sherrill, who used every inch of his 6'5" frame to snag Jack's pass for a 33-yard touchdown. The defense forced a three-and-out on the next Falcon series and the offense went on a drive that culminated in a 26-yard touchdown run for Jackson Jones. The Cat defense held their ground once again and the offense ran out thelast 3:57 to secure the win.

Final: Woods 42, JV 35

Ground

That was the triple-option at its finest. Bobby Dodson consistently chewed up yards, while Arkievrick Vitatoe busted loose for a few good runs to the outside. Darion Morgan was effective when called upon, and Jackson Jones showed great vision in the open field, even as he was flailing around as he made his way upfield. He had a 55-yard touchdown run erased on a holding penalty but ended up getting the decisive score halfway through the final quarter.

Bobby did not lose yardage on any of his 24 carries. The only Cy Woods rushing attempt that lost yards occurred when Jackson got sacked to end the third quarter.

As always, all statistics are from Varsity Wires and are unofficial.

Bobby Dodson: 24 carries, 146 yards, TD
Jackson Jones: 11 carries, 88 yards, TD
Arkievrick Vitatoe: 4 carries, 83 yards, TD
Darion Morgan: 12 carries, 56 yards
Dallas Caldwell: 1 carry, 28 yards
Jack Barrientez: 2 carries, 21 yards, 2 TD
Christian Scott: 1 carry, 5 yards
Team: 3 carries, -5 yards; Jackson took a knee to end the first half and kneeled twice to end the game.

Air

The Cats threw five passes and completed them all. We'll see a little more passing to keep opposing defenses honest as the year progresses.

Jackson Jones: 4-4, 110 yards
Jack Barrientez: 1-1, 33 yards, TD

Bobby also made an impact on the passing game, providing a solid safety valve for Jackson.

Bobby Dodson: 3 catches, 61 yards
Cullen Sherrill: 2 catches, 83 yards, TD

Sherrill Twins Receiving Touchdown Tracker

Cullen 6
Tanner 0

Defense

After the Cy Ridge offense found ways to stay on the field on third down and scored three times on fourth down, no doubt that the late downs were a point of emphasis all week. The Falcons went 3-8 on third down and scored on their only fourth down situation. That's not great, but it's certainly a step forward after they allowed Ridge to convert 10 times on third and fourth down.

Jordan Jones had 5 catches for 55 yards, but he made a minimal impact at best on the proceedings for Jersey Village.

Three games, three games with double-digit tackles for Mac Bird.

Tackles

Clancey Hall - 10 (1.5 for loss)
Mac Bird - 10 (0.5 for loss)
Derrick Brooks - 6 (1 for loss)
Jackson Turnbow - 6 (1 for loss)
Jack Barrientez, Ryan Gilcrease, and Jozef Taylor - 5 each
Collin Fewox, Max Sweet, and Austin Kennedy - 3 each
JoJo Guillory and Trevor Reed - 2 each
Tyler Redgrave - 1

The Wildcats did not force any turnovers in this game.

Special Teams

Jared Swonke hit on all six of his extra point attempts. The Wildcats did not punt in this game.

Vitatoe had a nice kickoff return. Tevis Adams can fly, and he nearly broke free twice.

Tevis Adams: 2 kicks returned, 60 yards
Arkievrick Vitatoe: 1 kick returned, 28 yards
Cam Sowell: 1 kick returned, -6 yards

Men of the Match

Bobby Dodson is probably my offensive MVP for the first third of the season. Every time he touches the ball, he's almost guaranteed to gain 4-6 yards. The Cats have leaned heavily on him to deliver those 4-6 yards and he has more than fulfilled his end of the bargain. Bobby's pass-catching out of the backfield will be a real asset for Jackson Jones as he continues to grow into his position as QB1.

The Wildcats have gotten solid contributions from Mac Bird all season and he turned in another solid performance. But in this game, Clancey Hall and Jackson Turnbow really stepped up and left their mark. This group has definitely been a strength for the Cat defense in the early going.

Looking Ahead

Cy Woods will take on Langham Creek at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium on Thursday, October 5 at 6:30 PM. The Wildcats will be the visitors in this contest.

Know Your Enemy: Jersey Village Falcons

Week 3: Cypress Woods Wildcats (1-1) vs. Jersey Village Falcons (1-1)
7:00 PM Friday, September 29, 2017
Homecoming X at Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Stadium

Photo by Billy Schuerman

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats escaped Pridgeon Stadium with a 35-34 win over Cy Ridge, their first win of 2017. Jack Barrientez scored on a 51-yard run, caught a 68-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Jones, and also recorded 6 tackles on defense. The defense was once again paced by Mac Bird, who had 13 tackles, 5.5 of which resulted in a loss of yards. Although the Rams scored with 1:28 remaining in the contest, the Cats defense stopped them on a two-point conversion attempt which ultimately secured the victory.

On Homecoming Friday, the Wildcats will tussle with a team that has had their number in recent years. This will be the first time that Cy Woods will play Jersey Village at the Berry Center/Cy-Fair FCU Stadium.

The Enemy: Jersey Village Falcons

2016 record: 3-7, 3-6 (6th) in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs

The Falcons won their season opener 26-16 over Cy Ridge after jumping out to a 19-0 lead after the first quarter. Last Saturday, they hung tough with Cy Ranch for three quarters but couldn't find the breakthrough score and ultimately fell 26-14.

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-4.

Previous Meetings

September 24, 2016: JV 58, Woods 46
October 30, 2015: JV 74, Woods 73
October 31, 2014: JV 44, Woods 38
November 9, 2013: JV 42, Woods 0
November 10, 2012: Woods 35, JV 14
October 1, 2011: Woods 63, JV 24
October 2, 2010: Woods 35, JV 14
October 3, 2009: Woods 31, JV 13
October 4, 2008: Woods 56, JV 6

Players to Watch

WR Jordan Jones, WR John Gilbert, QB Blake Johnson, RB Kendon Flowers, ATH Tre Richardson, DL Carson Wendt, DB Jireh Thompson, WR/DB Jacobi Whooper

2¢ on JV

The Wildcats absolutely dominated this series at the outset, but in recent years, the Falcons have seized control as players such as Deshun Qualls, Christian Taylor, Jordan Williams, Lavance Moore, and Rokeem Paul have all proven to be massive thorns in Cy Woods' collective side. The four-game losing streak to Jersey Village, which dates back to the 2013 regular-season finale, is the Wildcats' longest current skid against a single opponent.

Jordan Jones had a fine sophomore campaign in 2016 and will be the #1 target for Tre Richardson and Blake Johnson. Richardson and Johnson have both started the season in a platoon at quarterback, but Richardson took a majority of the snaps against Ranch. He'll also play in the secondary when Johnson is at quarterback.

John Gilbert and Jacobi Whooper are both reliable options in the passing game; Whooper will also see time in the secondary. Kendon Flowers had a solid junior season after coming in from Clear Falls and will take over as the feature back, as Jireh Thompson has now moved to defensive back. Jones and Richardson are also their starting cornerbacks, as it looks like a few teams in this district are starting to play their best athletes both ways. Simeon Roberts, Darius Johnson and Tristan Pickney round out a deep secondary corps for the Falcons.

The front seven is young but promising. Carson Wendt has emerged as a player on the defensive line; he had a sack against Ridge and led JV with 7 tackles against Ranch. The linebackers are a little undersized, but they'll fly around and make plays. Kelvin Cruse, a sophomore, has played well in the first two games of his high school football career.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

In the 100th game in Cy Woods football history, the Wildcats led 31-17 at halftime, but the Falcons turned the tables in the second half and emerged with a 58-46 victory. Jacob Kainer went 22-31 for 333 yards and threw touchdown passes to Jack Barrientez and Cullen Sherrill. Jacob also ran for 125 yards and three touchdowns. Jack threw a touchdown pass to Brennan Niles and had 116 receiving yards.

The Cats had no answer for Thompson, who finished with 242 yards and four scores on 23 carries. They didn't have any answers for the Falcon passing game either as Jones and Gilbert both had 100+ receiving yards, while Alec Wechsler threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

Freshmen are at home, while the junior varsity heads to Jersey Village. Game times, as always, are at 5:00 and 7:00.

Location of Jersey Village High School

Cy Woods 35, Cy Ridge 34: Thrilling End

2017 Record: 1-1

Photo by Tom Dendy

Jack Barrientez darts upfield on his way to the end zone.

Hello, win column.

The Cypress Woods Wildcats escaped Pridgeon Stadium with a 35-34 victory over the Cypress Ridge Rams to record their first victory of the 2017 campaign.

With this win, the Cats snapped a four-game losing streak dating back to the end of last season which was extended to four when they lost to Springs to begin this season. They also erased a double-digit deficit to win a game for the first time since 2015 against... Cy Ridge.

Big victory over a solid Ridge team that still has plenty of returning talent from a 4th-round playoff team last season. I expect them to still remain in the playoff hunt down the road. This gives the Cats positive momentum heading into Homecoming and is also a massive confidence boost for a sophomore quarterback who was starting his first varsity football game. Jackson Jones showed great poise and certainly was not intimidated by a solid Rams defense. After a dearth of explosive plays against Springs, the offense rebounded with three scoring plays of over 50 yards. Woods ran the triple option as well as any team could, especially in the second half, where they dominated the time of possession.

This was a "character win" for the Cats: their character was on full display as they came back from a 21-6 halftime deficit and kept the Rams off the scoreboard for much of the second half. Last year, that deficit would have widened significantly in the second half. The Cats turned the tables in the final 24 minutes by outscoring the Rams 29-13. The Cats had two scoring drives of 15 (this one began in the third quarter) and 16 plays in the fourth quarter... which set the stage for a frantic and thrilling conclusion in which both teams scored two touchdowns apiece in two minutes. The difference in this game was a failed two-point conversion that would have given Ridge the lead after they had scored with 1:28 left in the game to cut the Woods lead to one point.

In this district, every game matters, especially in this abbreviated season. Had the Cats been in Ridge's situation at the end of last night's game, I'm sure they would have gone for two. I respect Coach Thiebaud's decision to go for the win. I'm also glad that the Cats foiled his team's bid to win the game.

Cy Woods did not commit a single penalty in this game. I believe that is the first time that this has occurred.

Scoring Summary

Jack Barrientez opened the scoring by slicing and dicing his way into the end zone from 51 yards out. Unfortunately, Jared Swonke banged the ensuing extra point off the left upright. Noah Smith busted loose for a 35-yard touchdown run and the Rams converted their extra point.

End of 1st Quarter: Ridge 7, Woods 6

The second stanza belonged to Cy Ridge. On 4th and 20, Justice Porter rolled out to his right and connected with Jakobe Jackson for a 30-yard touchdown pass to start the quarter. Porter snuck in from less than a yard out on another fourth down. Matt Roberts stole a little momentum for Woods with an interception in the endzone after Ryan Gilcrease tipped the ball.

Halftime: Ridge 21, Woods 6

The Cats ended the first half by forcing a turnover, and they started the second by forcing a turnover. Mac Bird jarred the ball loose from Ridge running back Leslie Wellington and Tyler Redgrave pounced to give Cy Woods the ball. On their first possession of the second half, Jackson Jones floated a ball to Cullen Sherrill, who took it 50 yards for a touchdown.

End of 3rd Quarter: Ridge 21, Woods 13

Jackson capped off a 15-play drive that started with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter with a 4-yard touchdown run. He was stopped just before crossing the goal line on the two-point conversion attempt, so the Cats still trailed 21-19. The defense forced a three-and-out, and the offense proceeded to go on a 16-play drive that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown run for Arkievrick Vitatoe and a two-point run from Jackson that gave Cy Woods a 27-21 lead with 3:23 to play. So, all the Cats needed to do was play sound, smart football for the final 3:23. Ehh... what happened next wasn't the best example of sound, smart football.

The ensuing kickoff from Swonke went out of bounds. Porter then completed all five of his passes, the last of which was a 17-yard strike to Noah Smith, who still found the end zone despite having four Wildcats trying to bring him down.

The next Cy Woods offensive drive did not start out well as Jack was forced out for a 4-yard loss on first down. No matter... one play later, he caught a pass from Jackson and scored from 68 yards out with exactly two minutes to go. Once again, Jackson got the two points.

The Rams had one last answer, though... on another fourth down, Porter found Jakobe Jackson again, and Jackson outran everyone on his way to a 67-yard touchdown reception. On the ensuing two-point conversion, the Cats made the one stop they had to make as they repelled Smith from the goal line to preserve a 35-34 lead.

Final: Woods 35, Ridge 34

Ground

Bobby Dodson wasn't as effective in getting chunks of yardage as he was against Cy Springs, but he did not fumble. Christian Scott had a couple of nice runs on pitchouts.

All statistics are from Varsity Wires and are unofficial.

Jack Barrientez: 7 carries, 69 yards, TD
Bobby Dodson: 15 carries, 51 yards
Jackson Jones: 13 carries, 35 yards, TD; 1 fumble lost
Christian Scott: 5 carries, 34 yards
Darion Morgan: 5 carries, 15 yards
Arkievrick Vitatoe: 4 carries, 12 yards, TD
Connor Faulk: 2 carries, 3 yards
Team: 3 carries, -3 yards; Jackson kneeled three times at the end of the game

Air

I'm still trying to get used to seeing a Cy Woods football team throw the ball four times in a football game. No, that is not a typo; the Cats only had four passing attempts all evening.

Fortunately, two of those attempts were complete and they both resulted in touchdowns.

Jackson Jones: 2-4, 118 yards, 2 TD

Sherrill Twins Touchdown Reception Tracker

Cullen 5
Tanner 0

Jack Barrientez: 1 catch, 68 yards, TD
Cullen Sherrill: 1 catch, 50 yards, TD

Defense

The defense was not exactly placed in ideal positions, especially in the first half. They stepped up in a huge way in the second half before cracking a little towards the end. Fortunately, they made the most important stop of the night to keep the Cats in the lead.

Getting opponents off the field in the later downs has been an Achilles' heel for years for the Cy Woods defense. They allowed the Rams to convert 6 of 12 third down opportunities and all four of their fourth-down situations on Friday. In fact, three Ridge touchdowns came on fourth down. That simply cannot continue if the Cats want to have success this season.

Tackles

Mac Bird - 13 (5 assisted, 5.5 for loss)
Jack Barrientez and Matt Roberts - 6 each (Jack's all solo; Matt 3 assists)
Colin Paterson - 4 (2 assisted)
Six Wildcats with 3 - Collin Fewox, Clancey Hall, Ryan Gilcrease (all solo; Collin and Ryan had 1 tackle for loss), Jozef Taylor (1 assisted, 1 for loss), Jackson Hosemann (2 assisted), Austin Kennedy (all assisted)
Three Wildcats with 2 - Derrick Brooks, Trevor Reed, Tyler Redgrave (1 assisted)
Four Wildcats with 1- Omar Acosta, Max Sweet, Jackson Turnbow (all solo), Cam Sowell (assisted)

Fumbles: Collin Fewox and Mac Bird both forced a fumble. Tyler Redgrave recovered the one Mac forced.

Interceptions: Matt Roberts 1, returned for 1 yard

Special Teams

Not the greatest night on this front. Jared Swonke's first extra point hit the post. One of his kickoffs went out of bounds and Ridge took advantage with a touchdown. Arkievrick Vitatoe dropped the ball on a kickoff, and Cam Sowell had a couple of sophomore moments; he fielded a kick and stood there for the Rams to nail him and he was also supposed to be on the field for a punt late in the fourth quarter, which forced the Cats to burn a timeout and resulted in him receiving a severe chewing-out session from Coach Zachos during the stoppage.

Jared Swonke: 1-2 XP
Greg Blaser: 2 punts, 60 yards, long of 43

Arkievrick Vitatoe: 2 kicks returned, 27 yards
Jack Barrientez: 1 kick returned, 23 yards
Cam Sowell: 1 kick returned, 0 yards

Men of the Match

Three Cats share the honors: Jack Barrientez, Jackson Jones, and Mac Bird.

Jack is one of the gutsiest kids I've seen in a Wildcat uniform. No question, he left it all out on the field. 140 total yards (he had a 23-yard kick return), two touchdowns, and six tackles out of the secondary... the Cats needed all of his contributions on Friday.

Mac Bird turned in another outstanding performance on defense as he basically lived in the Ridge backfield all night. Mac has 25 tackles in the first two games and eight have resulted in a loss of yards. He has proven to be a legitimate disruptive force for the Wildcat defense in the early going.

Welcome to the big leagues, Jackson Jones. As long as Jacob Kainer is out, you're the man. Every second you spend on the field will be valuable as you continue to develop as a football player. Jackson wasn't counted on to do everything, but he performed capably and showed why he is considered a top prospect for the Wildcats.

Looking Ahead

It's Homecoming at the Woods!

In the tenth Cypress Woods Homecoming football game, the Wildcats will take on the Jersey Village Falcons at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium on Friday, September 29 at 7:00 PM.

Looking for Pictures?

If you are a parent or a player and are looking for pictures, Mr. Dendy will be shooting at all varsity games this season. He will also take photos at home sub-varsity games.

The link to all of his photos for the 2017 season is on the sidebar of the blog.

Know Your Enemy: Cypress Ridge Rams

Week 2: Cypress Woods Wildcats (0-1) @ Cypress Ridge Rams (0-1)
7:00 PM Friday, September 22, 2017
Pridgeon Stadium

Photo by Billy Schuerman

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

The Wildcats came undone thanks to four lost fumbles and stumbled out of the gate with a 27-9 loss to Cy Springs, their first loss in 10 all-time meetings with the Panthers. Bobby Dodson ran for 77 yards on 14 carries. Jared Swonke hit a 30-yard field goal and Jack Barrientez scored on a 3-yard run. On defense, Mac Bird posted a dozen tackles and sacked Cy Springs quarterback Xayvion West for an 11-yard loss.

Next up for Cy Woods is a matchup against the last CFISD team standing in 2016.

The Enemy: Cypress Ridge Rams

2016 record: 11-3, 7-2 (3rd) in District 17-6A

Lost 34-17 to Cinco Ranch in 6A Division II, Region III Final

In their season opener, the Rams fell behind 19-0 to Jersey Village after the first quarter and those opening 12 minutes proved to be the difference as the Falcons came out on top by a final score of 26-16. Noah Smith ran for 96 yards, caught 6 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown, and completed 9 of his 10 passes for 106 yards.

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 5-4.

Previous Meetings

September 17, 2016: Ridge 36, Woods 21

September 11, 2015: Woods 59, Ridge 31

September 13, 2014: Woods 59, Ridge 28
September 19, 2013: Woods 28, Ridge 26
September 20, 2012: Ridge 54, Woods 21
October 29, 2011: Woods 45, Ridge 13
October 30, 2010: Woods 49, Ridge 40
September 25, 2009: Ridge 46, Woods 20 (Homecoming II)
September 26, 2008: Ridge 43, Woods 41

Players to Watch

ATH Noah Smith, RB Alex Jacobs, ATH Justice Porter, OL Tyrese Williams, DL Melik Owens, LB Tyler Cockle, LB Branden Nguyen, DB Pierre Cole, DB Davion Bradley

2¢ on Ridge

In 2014, Cy Ridge underwent a youth movement and crashed to the bottom of the table with a 2-8 record. Two years later, they posted the best season in school history behind an outstanding senior class led by Trelon Smith, Kevin LeDee, Tyson Williams, D'Juan Matthews, TyRae Thornton, and James Froehlich.

With the Class of 2017 moving on, the Rams have a little rebuilding to do. That being said, they've established a solid foundation and their returning players are no slouches. Tyrese Williams returns to anchor the offensive line. Noah Smith and Justice Porter are dynamic athletes who can play any offensive skill position. Smith is their top returning receiver and they both split time at quarterback against Jersey Village. 

Alex Jacobs saw significant action as Trelon Smith's understudy last season and now it's his turn to shine. However, the Rams went without his services against JV.

Ridge continues to boast a solid front seven year in and year out. Melik Owens garnered Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors last season, and in doing so, he continued a streak of Cy Ridge defensive linemen winning that award: Kamari Staton and D'Juan Matthews earned this honor in 2014 and 2015, respectively. I believe that his 9 sacks last season led the district. Owens will be counted on to serve as a leader in the trenches, where he'll be joined by Zed Asowata, Wes Freeman, Rashad Smith, and Centarus Smith. Tyler Cockle gained some valuable experience as a sophomore and finished second on the team with 4.5 sacks. Brendan Nguyen posted 8 tackles in his first varsity game last week. 

The Rams have some rebuilding to do in the secondary as James Froehlich, Zac Lancaster, Kobe House, and TyRae Thornton have all moved on. Pierre Cole transferred in from Morton Ranch and delivered a solid first impression by posting 6 tackles. Davion Bradley was a reserve last year, but he's now getting his chance in the spotlight.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

The Wildcats somehow held a 13-8 lead at halftime despite only gaining 25 yards of offense. Unfortunately, the total lack of production on that side of the ball eventually came back to haunt the Cats and the Rams seized control by outscoring them 28-8 in the second half to come out with a 36-21 victory. They got two touchdown runs apiece from Trelon Smith and Alex Jacobs in the final 24 minutes.

Semaj Trahan returned an interception 86 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Jacob Kainer scored on a 1-yard run in the second and threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jack Barrientez in the third quarter. Kason Franklin and Myles Wilson both finished with 13 tackles in this game.

Sub-Varsity Game Information

JV teams will play at Woods while the freshmen head to Cy Ridge. Game times are at 5:00 and 7:00 on Thursday.

The JV Gold team will take on Kingwood Park at 5:00 as the Rams only have one JV team.

Location of Cypress Ridge High School

Help Wanted

Once again, I am trying to find a few Cy Woods football players to serve as guest writers for the blog. Preferably, I would like to have one player from each grade as a contributor. I know that expressing one's thoughts isn't the most comfortable thing, but doing it on a media form other than Twitter can help immensely, especially when you attempt to do it using a pen and paper. It's also a great opportunity for the community to get to know you.

If you're interested, message me through Twitter or send me an email; my email is on the right-hand column of this blog. If you're too lazy to search for it, it's dustin2810 at gmail.

Cy Springs 27, Cy Woods 9: Sputter

2017 Record: 0-1 in District 17-6A

Photo by Kyle Ransleben, The Crimson Connection

Turnovers, man.

Four lost fumbles doomed the Cy Woods Wildcats on Thursday night as they fell 27-9 to the Cy Springs Panthers to open their 2017 campaign.

And so for the first time ever, Cy Woods lost to Cy Springs in a varsity football game. This is also the first time that Cy Woods has been held to single digits in a game since they were trounced 51-7 by Katy in the area round of the 2013 playoffs.

The Cats have handled the Panthers rather effortlessly in the past, but this affair would be a little daunting, considering the firepower that Springs brought back for 2017. Their Fantastic Four of Taye Barber, Leon O'Neal, Jah'marae Sheread, and Xayvion West showed why they are highly regarded players and they all impacted the game in a significant way.

This game was also a bit irritating because the Cats really did have a chance to steal it thanks to the Panthers' poor discipline; they just kept squandering those opportunities. Springs also came out on top because they managed to get a big play when they needed it. Kameron Chappell only had two catches, but they went for 40 and 34 yards. Jah'marae Sheread tallied 127 total yards on offense and scored on a 24-yard run and caught a 25-yard touchdown from Xayvion West. Springs had more than their fair share of penalties, but that was countered by the fact that they played a clean game on offense.

On the other hand, Woods couldn't capitalize on their big plays. Tory Spears had a 60-yard kickoff return and the offense proceeded to go three-and-out on the next series. They got into the red zone thanks to a late hit in the 3rd quarter but ended up turning the ball over by losing yet another fumble.

In switching to the triple-option offense, Woods hoped to control their tempo. It's a radical departure from the Wildcat teams of years past, which went 100 miles per hour all the time. To me though, there were times during this game where it felt that their pace was rather deliberate. I imagine that the deliberate tempo might have stemmed from running a new offensive system in a real game for the first time. Finding that happy medium in terms of tempo will be crucial.

On the bright side, Jackson Jones acquitted himself well in his first varsity football game. Colin Paterson and Mac Bird really shined on defense. That side of the ball should benefit greatly from the slightly toned-down pace.

All six sophomores listed on the roster saw playing time in this game, most notably Jackson, who took most of the reps at quarterback in the 2nd half. This still essentially a squad that is mainly relying on juniors and a few sophomores to play prominent roles. These kids will provide some electrifying moments. They'll also mess up quite a bit as well. The road back to contention will be arduous, but a few good breaks and an upset or two could get Cy Woods back into the top four.

Despite the result of this game, it's good to have football back. It's another step towards normalcy after the havoc wreaked by Harvey.

Scoring Summary

After Woods turned it over on their first offensive possession of the 2017 season, Jah'marae Sheread made them pay as he opened the scoring with a 24-yard run. The first Cy Woods points of the season came on a 30-yard field goal from Jared Swonke.

End of 1st quarter: Springs 7, Woods 3

The Panthers had the only scoring play of the 2nd quarter as Xayvion West connected with Sheread for a 25-yard touchdown pass.

Halftime: Springs 14, Woods 3

Just like they did in the first half, the Cats lost a fumble on their opening drive of the second half. Taye Barber made them pay one play later with a 4-yard touchdown run.

It took 35:47, but Jack Barrientez scored the first Cy Woods touchdown of 2017 with a 3-yard run.

End of 3rd quarter: Springs 21, Woods 9

On the Panthers' last drive of the night, Kevonne Hyde ran for 51 yards on a 3rd down and one play later, Xayvion West punched it in from a yard out for the final points of the game.

Final: Springs 27, Woods 9

Ground

In contrast to the Panthers, the Wildcats' longest offensive play was a 21-yard run from Dallas Caldwell. Bobby Dodson was quite effective in gaining yards in chunks.

But again.... turnovers kill.

All statistics are from Varsity Wires and are unofficial.

Bobby Dodson: 14 carries, 77 yards; 2 fumbles lost
Connor Faulk: 6 carries, 27 yards
Jack Barrientez: 12 carries, 20 yards, TD
Dallas Caldwell: 2 carries, 10 yards; 1 fumble lost
Jackson Jones: 3 carries, 6 yards

The Cats also lost another fumble that was not charged to anyone in particular (it falls under "TEAM" in the box score).

Air

Jack Barrientez started his first game at quarterback since... CFSA? Goodson? Ever?

Jackson Jones took over for most of the second half. The Cats will still pass, but it's going to be less prominent than ever before. Unfortunately, Jacob Kainer will be out of commission due to an injury he suffered in practice.

Jackson Jones: 6-12, 60 yards
Jack Barrientez: 2-2, 26 yards

Cullen Sherrill absorbed some big hits but he also made a couple of tough catches.

Cullen Sherrill: 3 catches, 52 yards
Connor Faulk: 3 catches, 20 yards
Dallas Caldwell: 1 catch, 14 yards
Jack Barrientez: 1 catch, 0 yards

Defense

It's early, but I think this team may not be bad at defense. Unfortunately, the Panthers got some big plays when they needed it, especially on third down.

Tackles

Mac Bird - 12 (7 assisted, 2.5 for loss)
Colin Paterson - 7 (3 assisted, 4.5 for loss)
4 Wildcats with 4 - Tory Spears and Derrick Brooks (all solo), Tyler Redgrave (3 assisted), Ryan Gilcrease 4 (all assisted)
Collin Fewox (all solo) and Jack Barrientez (all assisted) - 3
3 Wildcats with 2 - Matt Roberts (both solo), Austin Kennedy and Max Sweet (1 solo, 1 assisted)
Clancey Hall and Omar Acosta: 1 (both assisted)

Mac sacked Xayvion West for an 11-yard loss early in the third quarter.

Special Teams

Tory Spears fielded a kickoff 6 yards deep in the end zone and provided a bit of a spark with a 60-yard return in the second quarter. Unfortunately, the Cats went backwards on their ensuing drive. That might have been the longest kick return for Woods in at least a couple of years.

Tory Spears: 1 kick return, 60 yards; 1 punt return, 10 yards
Dallas Caldwell: 3 kick returns, 39 yards
Collin Fewox: 1 punt return, 19 yards
Arkievrick Vitatoe: 1 kick return, 19 yards

Jared Swonke's 30-yard kick in the opening quarter was the Wildcats' first points of the season. Greg Blaser's only official punt went for 36 yards and was downed inside the 20. He also had a 49-yard punt that was erased because he got run into.

Collin Fewox blocked a punt and the Cats were able to parlay that into a touchdown on their next possession.

Men of the Match

Mac Bird and Colin Paterson share the honors.

Good linebacker play has been missing for a few years at the Woods, but the two of them were active all evening and provided a huge spark for the Wildcat defense.

Looking Ahead

The Wildcats will face Cy Ridge on Friday, September 22 at 7:00 at Pridgeon. Cy Woods will be the visiting team in this contest.

Know Your Enemy: Cypress Springs Panthers

Week 3: Cypress Woods Wildcats vs. Cypress Springs Panthers
6:30 PM, Thursday, September 14, 2017
Pridgeon Stadium

Photo by Billy Schuerman

This is also the 212th post on the blog. 

The Cypress Woods Wildcats were originally supposed to start the 2017 season against Klein Collins on September 1, but Hurricane Harvey ravaged the Texas coast and threw everyone into flux; the first two weeks of the season were canceled, which means that all ten teams in District 17-6A will now have a nine-game season consisting solely of district contests. 

Hopefully, the start of the high school football season is another sign of normalcy returning. However, there are still many in our community who are still picking up the pieces and still in need of our help. In addition, towns such as Rockport, Refugio, Corpus Christi, Victoria, and Beaumont/Port Arthur all bore the brunt of Harvey's fury. As Texans, we look out for our own. Please, don't forget the communities of the Texas coast. 

I'm sure that area charities are still accepting donations. Houstonia Magazine has a list of local charities that you can donate to. Also, there are many, many opportunities to contribute financially toward the Harvey recovery. For starters, there is J.J. Watt's Houston Flood Relief Fund and Mayor Sylvester Turner's Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. And if you wish to volunteer, here are several Texas organizations that you can contact. This recovery will take a long time so do what you can, give what you can.

Now... on to football. Cy Woods and Cy Springs will open up the 2017 football season in District 17-6A on Thursday.

The Enemy: Cypress Springs Panthers

2016 record: 3-7, 2-7 (t-7th) in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 9-0.

Previous Meetings

September 9, 2016: Woods 69, Springs 34

November 7, 2015: Woods 49, Springs 39

November 6, 2014: Woods 70, Springs 44

October 4, 2013: Woods 57, Springs 14 (Homecoming VI)
October 5, 2012: Woods 48, Springs 13
November 5, 2011: Woods 47, Springs 0
November 6, 2010: Woods 51, Springs 41
October 16, 2009: Woods 23, Springs 13
October 17, 2008: Woods 48, Springs 14 (Homecoming I)

Players to Watch

DB Leon O'Neal, QB Xayvion West, ATH Taye Barber, WR Jah'marae Sheread, DL Josh Jolivette, LB Chandler Ojiaku, DL Jose Cirlos, DL Kolbi Lewis

2¢ on Springs

The Panthers have been regarded as a sleeping giant, but three straight 3-7 seasons following two years of improving win totals may have stagnated their momentum somewhat. Springs is still loaded with tremendous upside, but moral victories don't guarantee a playoff berth, and they feel that they are well past the "moral victory" stage. With dynamic athletes like Leon O'Neal, Taye Barber, and Jah'marae Sheread, 2017 may be the best chance for the Panthers to end the district's longest active playoff drought. One thing is for sure: these are not the Cy Springs Panthers who routinely brought up the rear in Cy-Fair ISD football.

Springs boasts one of the most explosive trios in the city in West, Sheread, and Barber. Xayvion West is the district's leading returning passer, and he didn't even enter last season as their starting quarterback. Barber, a TCU commit, has taken extremely well to a super-utility role that has maximized his impact on games. Sheread, who is also a serious threat in the return game, is coming off a 1,000-yard season. The three of them should put up obscene numbers in 2017.

Where the Panthers finish this season will most likely hinge on how well their defense, which turned in one of the worst performances in CFISD football history in 2016, improves in 2017. They were the only team in District 17-6A to allow more than 500 points last season. They'll turn to Leon O'Neal to lead the defense. O'Neal led the district with 147 total tackles last year. He is also one of the country's most highly-sought after recruits and pledged to Texas A&M in the offseason. With 8 returning starters on the defensive side of the ball, Springs leads the way in that category, so that should certainly help facilitate a turnaround.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

Cy Woods lit up the new-look Pridgeon Stadium, racing out to a 62-21 lead after three quarters and cruising to a 69-34 victory. Jacob Kainer threw for 303 yards and five touchdowns and added 128 yards and three more touchdowns on the ground. 

Sub-Varsity Game Information

JV teams play at Cy Springs, while the freshmen are at home. Game times are 5:00 and 7:00 on Wednesday.

Location of Cypress Springs High School

Hurricane Harvey

I originally posted this on What the Heck, Bobby?

At last. After nearly five consecutive days of endless rain, Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey has finally made his exit from the Greater Houston area. I'm fortunate that my family and I sustained minimal losses from Harvey, but withstanding the storm does not mean that everything will instantaneously return to normal.

For many along the Texas coast, their perception of "normal" has been shattered and for them, there is a very real possibility that it may never be repaired. This is only the beginning of a long and arduous healing process. With that being said, the images I have seen this weekend of first responders working round the clock to coordinate rescue and evacuation efforts and the influx of volunteers from Texas and the nation lending a helping hand to these efforts truly give me hope.

Now, the rebuilding process begins and we all have a part to play in it. Not just in Houston, but all along the Texas coast as well. Houston may get the headlines because of its status as the 4th-largest city in the United States, but towns such as Rockport, Refugio, Corpus Christi, and Victoria all bore the brunt of Harvey's fury. As Texans, we look out for our own. Please, don't forget the communities of the Coastal Bend.

There are many, many opportunities to contribute financially toward the Harvey recovery. And if you wish to volunteer, here are several Texas organizations that you can contact. This recovery will take a long time so do what you can, give what you can.

Wildcats Through the Years: 2016

The next chapter of Wildcats Through the Years profiles the 2016 team.

Photo credit: Matt Ramos, The Crimson Connection

Summary

Final record: 2-8, 2-7 (t-7th) in District 17-6A
Did not qualify for playoffs
Points scored: 284 (28.4 per game)
Points allowed: 403 (40.3 per game)
Largest margin of victory: 35 vs. Cy Springs (69-34)
Largest margin of defeat: 39 vs. Cy Ranch (13-52)
Most points scored: 69 vs. Cy Springs
Fewest points scored: 10 vs. Cy Falls
Most points allowed: 62 vs. Langham Creek
Fewest points allowed: 24 vs. Cy Creek

Team Records Set or Tied

Unfortunately, the records this team set were all of the ignominious variety.

Worst record: 2-8
Worst record in district games: 2-7
Fewest points scored in a season: 284
Worst point differential: -119
Longest losing streak: 4 (tied, also longest in a single season)

Individual Records Set or Tied

Receiving touchdowns, career: C.J. Jones, 14 (tied)
Points scored by a kicker, career: Luis Reyes, 187

Statistical Leaders

Stats from Varsity Wires

Passing: Jacob Kainer - 105-203 (51.7%), 1,578 yards, 14 TD, 9 INT
Rushing: Jacob Kainer - 142 carries, 514 yards (3.6 yards per carry), 10 TD
Receiving: Jack Barrientez - 39 receptions, 467 yards (12 yards per catch), 7 TD
Tackles: Myles Wilson - 96
Interceptions: Collin Fewox - 2
Sacks: Cody Eggleston - 4.5

Schedule and Results

Week 1: L 42-14 @ Klein Collins (Klein Memorial)
Week 3: W 69-34 @ Cy Springs (Pridgeon)
Week 4: L 36-21 vs. Cy Ridge (Cy-Fair FCU)
Week 5: L 58-46 @ Jersey Village (Pridgeon)
Week 6: L 62-35 vs. Langham Creek (Cy-Fair FCU)
Week 7: L 27-10 vs. Cy Falls (Cy-Fair FCU)
Week 8: W 36-33 @ Cy Lakes (Cy-Fair FCU)
Week 9: L 35-17 vs. Cy-Fair (Homecoming IX at Pridgeon)
Week 10: L 24-23 @ Cy Creek (Pridgeon)
Week 11: L 52-13 vs. Cy Ranch (Cy-Fair FCU)

The Rundown

After missing out on the playoffs in heartbreaking fashion in 2015, the Cypress Woods Wildcats had to say farewell to nearly all of their offensive production. Stalwarts such as Jared Taylor, Tre' Hart, Jordan Johnson, and R.J. Harmon all departed. In addition, starting quarterback Bryson Powers transferred to Klein Collins. That left C.J. Jones, Jack Barrientez.... and a myriad of unknown quantities.

Jacob Kainer, who saw some action as a sophomore before suffering a serious injury, took over the starting quarterback spot with Brighton Gullickson as his backup. C.J. was injured early in the season opener and never fully recovered from his injury. His absence left a massive void in the offense that had to be filled by Jack Barrientez and Nijah Surtain. Jack responded with a breakout year of sorts as he was the Cats' most productive (and often the only reliable) offensive option by far; not only did he lead the team in receiving yards, but he also finished with one fewer rushing yard than Jacob.

Aside from Jack, however, the Cats' options on offense were severely limited. Brennan Niles managed to lead the team with 19 yards per catch. Owing to the lack of depth, the Wildcats were forced to thrust a host of sophomores into prominent roles on the offense. By the end of the season, eight of them had featured on offense in some fashion. Jake Tesch was also the primary punt returner. Nijah was also the primary kick returner. The Sherrill twins, Cullen and Tanner, showed flashes of their upside at wide receiver, and Connor Faulk and Brock Gunderson were starters from day one at slot receiver and left tackle, respectively. Ethan Agnew also stepped into a starting role on the offensive line following his promotion to the varsity.

The defense was once again the team's Achilles' heel, especially against the run; the Wildcats allowed all but two of their opponents to run for 200 yards. In recent years, the Cats managed to mask this deficiency because they outscored their opponents on a regular basis. This was not the case in 2016, where a young offense's growing pains put the defense in a bind more often than not. Kason Franklin and Myles Wilson returned for one final season. Among the other veterans joining them were Ryan Kenny, Cody Eggleston, Neil Chambers, Collin Fewox, and Elijah Strang.

Regular Season

Chapter nine of Cy Woods Football began on August 27, 2016, as the Cats traveled to Klein Memorial Stadium to take on the Klein Collins Tigers. For the first time since 2010, the Wildcats opened their season with a true road game.

Week 1: Klein Collins 42, Cy Woods 14

Jacob Kainer scored the first points of the 2016 season with a two-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Unfortunately, the Tigers, like they did in the previous two meetings, completely dominated this affair, outgaining the Wildcats 420-120 on offense. The vast majority of those yards came via the running game. Bryson Powers shredded the Wildcat defense for three rushing touchdowns and his backfield partner, D'Anthony Doyle, scored two of his own. Jack Barrientez scored on a 37-yard run in the third quarter for Cy Woods' only other points.

Week 3: Cy Woods 69, Cy Springs 34

The Wildcats rebounded from their season-opening drubbing by doling out a drubbing of their own, christening a renovated Pridgeon Stadium with a 69-34 victory over the Panthers. Jacob Kainer finished 9-13 for 241 yards and four touchdowns through the air and also ran for 133 yards and three touchdowns. Jack Barrientez caught four passes, two for touchdowns, for 109 yards. Cy Woods blew this game wide open by outscoring Cy Springs 27-7 in the third quarter to extend their 35-14 halftime lead into a 62-21 laugher.

So... after lighting up the scoreboard, would things return to normal for the Wildcat offense?

Week 4: Cy Ridge 36, Cy Woods 21

Sadly, the answer was no. Semaj Trahan provided one of the few highlights in this game by returning an interception 87 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Jacob Kainer scored on a one-yard run in the second quarter, and despite allowing a touchdown right before halftime, the Cats led 13-8 at the intermission despite being held to just 27 yards of offense.

Jacob caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Jack, and Connor Faulk ran the ball in for two points for the Cats' only score of the second half. The lackluster outing from the offense put the defense in a bind, and the Rams eventually opened the floodgates by scoring 28 unanswered points to close out the game. The Cats were bludgeoned on the ground with Trelon Smith and Alex Jacobs, who both ran for over 100 yards with two rushing touchdowns.

Week 5: Jersey Village 58, Cy Woods 46

Despite the improved output on offense, it was more of the same on defense as the Falcons turned the tables on the Cats in the second half, outscoring them 41-15 after Cy Woods had held a 31-17 halftime lead. Jacob Kainer had an excellent performance, throwing for 333 yards and two touchdowns and running for 123 yards and three more scores.

The Cats had no answer for Jersey Village running back Jireh Thompson, who ran for 242 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries. They also had no answer for Falcon quarterback Alec Wechsler, who threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns; three of those touchdown passes came in the fourth quarter.

Week 6: Langham Creek 62, Cy Woods 35

At this point, I'm beginning to sound like a broken record. The Lobos scored on their first five offensive possessions and also returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the first half. Jacob threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw the two pick-sixes. Cullen Sherrill caught two touchdown passes.

Week 7: Cy Falls 27, Cy Woods 10

For the second time in 2016, the Wildcats lost to a previously winless team. The offense sputtered once again and a decent outing from the defense was wasted. Matt Ficalora scored the Cats' lone touchdown on a 32-yard pass from Brighton Gullickson in the fourth quarter. They had a chance to creep closer, but Brighton threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown.

With a fourth consecutive defeat, the Wildcats tied the longest losing streak in school history. It was also the first time that they have lost four straight in the same season.

Week 8: Cy Woods 36, Cy Lakes 33

Effectively out of the playoff picture, Cy Woods needed a 99-yard drive on their final possession of the game just to steal a win from the suddenly not-so-hapless Spartans. Hard to believe that Cy Lakes narrowly missed finishing 4-6 in 2016.

Jacob's topsy-turvy season continued as he finished 16-28 for 264 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those touchdowns went to Jack Barrientez, who ran for 123 yards and a touchdown of his own. After converting a fourth-and-13 with a 14-yard run, Jacob threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Nijah Surtain, who dashed 32 yards to the house with just 23 seconds remaining in the contest.

Week 9, Homecoming IX at Pridgeon: Cy-Fair 35, Cy Woods 17


Not a happy Homecoming for the Wildcats as this loss not only eliminated them from playoff contention, it also condemned them to a losing season for the second time in school history. The Wildcats were held to just 246 yards on offense but still managed to hang around before the Bobcats put the game away with a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Jack Barrientez ran for 96 yards on nine carries and scored on a three-yard touchdown.

Week 10: Cy Creek 24, Cy Woods 23

The Cats set a record they did not envision setting when the season began: most losses in a single season. They were unable to come away with a victory after Luis Reyes' 39-yard field goal sailed wide left with eight seconds to go; he was iced twice before finally getting the opportunity to attempt the kick. The Cats led 23-10 after the third quarter, but couldn't hold that lead.

Jack had another outstanding game, running for 111 yards and a touchdown and catching four passes for 63 yards and another touchdown. Collin Fewox shined on defense, posting 15 tackles and intercepting a pass.

Week 11: Cy Ranch 52, Cy Woods 13

Nothing caps off a rough season like getting dismantled by your most hated rival in the final game of the season. The Cats fell behind 38-6 at halftime and nearly suffered their worst loss in school history until C.J. Jones caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Brighton Gullickson late in the fourth quarter.

In Conclusion

Two consecutive seasons without the playoffs. Worst season in school history. Everything that could have possibly gone wrong for Cy Woods football went wrong in 2016. For a team that has enjoyed so much success from the start, the last two seasons have left many in the community scratching their heads, wondering what has happened to this once-proud program.

I can't talk ill of the kids who fought when given the opportunity. They just couldn't match up physically or athletically against their opponents, but they fought.

Every school goes through down periods; this just happens to be the first real down period for Cy Woods football. Everyone in the program feels a sense of responsibility for what happened in 2016 and I've seen a renewed focus from both the kids and the coaching staff this offseason; they're determined to get the program back on track and back to where it was for most of its history.

Fortunately, a majority of the players who went through a baptism by fire in 2016 all have a year of varsity football experience under their belts. On paper, the Cypress Woods Wildcats should be much improved on both sides of the football.

Precedent also appears to be on their side as well; teams finishing with 2-8 records in District 17-6A have seen improved fortunes; Cy Ridge went 2-8 in 2014 and was the last Cy-Fair ISD team standing in the playoffs two years later. Ditto for Cy Falls, who advanced to the third round in 2015 after finishing 2-8 in 2013.

With that being said, this is the first time in Cy Woods football history that no one is considering them as a playoff contender. They are literally out of sight, out of mind. That's fine; they usually do better when the spotlight is being shined somewhere else. The Cats face an uphill battle just to return to the top 4 in District 17-6A, but any improvement from 2016 will be gladly welcomed. That's what makes sports great: no matter how your teams fared in the previous season, they always get another shot to make amends for a poor season or to build upon sustained success.

Time to revive 212 once again.

2017 Schedule

Here is how the 2017 schedule shapes up for Cy Woods as they look to return to respectability after nearly collapsing into the cellar with a 2-8 record in 2016.

The schedule is essentially the same order of opponents from last year, only the games are played on different days. This is technically the tenth football team, but the ninth season since Cy Woods began varsity football.

Cy Woods will play all ten of its regular-season games at the two Cy-Fair ISD stadiums this year. They'll also have two Saturday day games on the docket.

Homecoming X is September 29 against Jersey Village at CF-FCU. It will also be the first time that the Wildcats will face the Falcons at the Stadium Formerly Known as the Berry Center. This is not the earliest Homecoming game for the Cats; Homecoming II (2009) against Cy Ridge was the district opener that year.

212! Cy Woods leaps into the 2017 season with Klein Collins at Pridgeon Stadium. They'll play @JerseyVillageHS in their Homecoming game. pic.twitter.com/3HkvdnTFNT

— Varsity Wires (@VarsityWires) April 7, 2017

Spring Football Schedule

In one month, the Cypress Woods Wildcats will formally begin their preparations for the 2017 football season.

Sprng Ball Practice Schedule:
April 24, 26, & 28
May 1- 5
Sat. May 6 @ 10am
May 8 -12
May 15
May 16 Spring Scrimmage @5 &7pm

— Cy Woods Football (@CyWoodsFB212) February 10, 2017

Time to find out who made the most of their offseason. Time to find out who's going to step up and emerge as a key player. Time to put the nightmares of 2016 behind.

New Power Clean Record!

Max Sweet, a senior (to-be) defensive lineman, set a new record in the weight room yesterday with a 335-pound power clean. The previous record was 310 pounds, set in 2012 by Marquise White.

Regardless of whether one is bench pressing, squatting, or power cleaning it... lifting 335 pounds worth of weights is an impressive feat. Congratulations, Max!

Max Sweet power clean 335!! #212 #newRecord #hardworkpaysoff pic.twitter.com/wDpBjVfvu3

— Cy Woods Football (@CyWoodsFB212) March 8, 2017

He got some love on Channel 11, too! (video from Trent Bird)

@Max_Sweet94 boys on the news what's up👏🏼👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/nNKwf0JvjY

— tbird (@legendarybird_) March 9, 2017

2016 Recap, and a Look Ahead to 2017

This post will be divided into two parts... a look back at 2016, and then a look ahead to the 2017 season.

If you would like to chime in with any of your own observations, feel free to do so. Also, if you would like to tell me that I have no idea what I am talking about, go right ahead. My email is on the right side of the page.

Seeing 2-8 as the record for the Cy Woods football team was definitely unsettling. The 2016 season surpassed worst-case scenario territory and was, for lack of a better term, appalling. There were many more lowlights than there were highlights, that's for sure.

I had a chance to talk with Coach Zachos, and he told me that he has rarely ever been a part of a team that finished with such a poor record. This past season was definitely humbling for him and the entire coaching staff. The negative factors that resulted in the first losing season in school history back in 2012 resurfaced in 2016, only these factors were magnified.

He talked about when Cy Woods faced Katy Taylor in the second round of the 2010 playoffs, a game which they won 67-7. As the score became more lopsided in the first half, he and the rest of the coaches saw the body language on the Taylor sideline and it was one of total surrender. At halftime, they conferred and agreed that this feeling of defeat and resignation could happen to Cy Woods as well. These coaches are not oblivious to the potential pitfalls that can doom a program; they can certainly mitigate those factors, but sometimes those factors end up burying a team, which was what occurred in 2016.

At the end of the day, though, this is sports. Whether your team made the playoffs or not, the slate is wiped clean every year and everyone gets to do it all over again. No doubt, this is the first real down period for Cy Woods football, and it will be interesting to see how this team responds. As Coach Jones always liked to say, it's time for this program to do some soul-searching.

In recent years, teams in District 17-6A have rebounded from 2-8 records to make deep playoff runs: Cy Ridge went from 2-8 in 2014 to the Division II, Region III final in 2016. Cy Falls finished 2-8 in 2013 and ended up making a run to the third round of the playoffs in 2015. Precedent seems to be on the Wildcats' side, but with that being said, there won't be any excuses for the next two seasons.

Here's how the Wildcat football program fared at all levels of competition in 2016:

Varsity: 2-8, 2-7 (t-7th) in District 17-6A

JV Cardinal: 8-2, 8-1 in District 17-6A 

JV Gold: 4-5, 4-4 in District 17-6A

Freshman Cardinal: 7-3, 7-2 in District 17-6A

Freshman Gold: 7-3, 7-1 in District 17-6A

Notes 

There was one JV game against Cy Ridge and one freshman game against Cy Creek, which were both won by Cy Woods. I counted those wins towards both cardinal teams.

The freshman gold team played Klein in Week 5, as Jersey Village had only one freshman team.

2016 Superlatives


2nd-team All-District 17-6A

OL Brock Gunderson
LB Cody Eggleston
WR Jack Barrientez
DB Myles Wilson

And now, my superlatives.

Most Valuable Player/Offensive Player of the Year: RB/WR Jack Barrientez

Before the season, I felt that Jack would be in line for a breakout year. He showed promise as his role in the offense expanded towards the end of 2015. He had a strong showing in the offseason and spring football and carried that momentum over into 7-on-7 season. C.J. Jones' extended absence in 2016 thrust him into the spotlight, and he responded by leading the Wildcats in receiving and rushing, topping 1,000 all-purpose yards on the season.

Jack does it all. He makes plays on the ground and in the passing game, and when the ball isn't in his hands, he helps his teammates make plays. He will enter his senior season as the Wildcats' top offensive threat.

Defensive Players of the Year: DL/LB Cody Eggleston and DB Myles Wilson

A two-year letterman, Cody stepped into a starting role in 2016 and ended up as the Wildcats' best defensive lineman. Actually, I was not sure what his primary position was, since he could line up at defensive end or outside linebacker.

In fact, Cody single-handedly outproduced every other Cy Woods defensive lineman this past season: he led the team in sacks and quarterback hits, finished second on the team in tackles for a loss, intercepted a pass, and he even blocked a field goal to boot.

Cody Eggleston certainly made the most of his opportunities as a Wildcat and he was rewarded with a chance to play college football. He'll play for Rhodes College, a Division III school in Memphis.

For three years, Myles Wilson has been one of the few bright spots on a defense that has struggled to keep opposing offenses off the scoreboard. Nevertheless, he has provided a reliable, steady presence for the Wildcat defense and was a true team player in his three seasons. He moved over to linebacker and led the Cats in tackles and fumble recoveries, and he also scored on a two-point conversion. When injuries sapped the depth from the secondary, Myles returned to his safety spot and continued his fine play.

I remember Myles when he was a ball boy and now he's on his way to being an outstanding young man. I wish him well in his future endeavors.

2017 Preview

Now, let's look ahead to what lies in store for Cy Woods football for 2017, shall we?

In Varsity Wires' way-too-early 2017 power rankings, the Wildcats slotted in at #9.

Here are our "Way Too Early Power Rankings" for the 2017 football season.

Varsity Wires went 3/4 in preseason predictions this season. pic.twitter.com/illGh6Of9P

— Varsity Wires (@VarsityWires) December 5, 2016

Yes, you read that tweet correctly. Only Jersey Village is ranked lower than Cy Woods, and they have beaten Woods in each of the last four seasons. Heading into the 2017 season, the Cats are not being thought of as a playoff-caliber squad, and rightfully so. After all, they are coming off a 2-8 season in which they looked like a shell of the team that was once a perennial district power.

The good news is that there is still talent in the pipeline; three of the four sub-varsity teams posted winning records in 2016. The problem facing the Wildcats is that depth may become a factor moving forward. I was able to watch the JV play Lakes and Creek and if memory serves me right, only 30 kids suited up on the Cardinal team in both of these games. The Gold team probably had around 40 kids for those two games.

Winning at the sub-varsity level is nice, but it's time for those results to translate to the varsity level again. Expect some of the kids from the class of 2020 to challenge for spots on varsity, as well.

Who's coming back?

If any of these players are not coming back, please let me know and I will amend this section accordingly.

Italics - will be a junior in 2017

QB Jacob Kainer
QB Semaj Trahan
ATH Jack Barrientez
RB Bobby Dodson
RB Nijah Surtain
WR Connor Faulk
WR Cullen Sherrill
WR Tanner Sherrill
WR Jake Tesch
WR Angel Laca
OL Brock Gunderson
OL Ethan Agnew
OL Tim Dendy
DL Trevor Reed
DL Christian Jones
LB Tyler Redgrave
DB Matt Roberts
DB Collin Fewox
DB Tory Spears

Who could help in 2017?

Football-wise, 2016 was a wasted year for Semaj Trahan. However, I expect that he will have an expanded and more defined role in 2017. I honestly thought that he should have stayed at cornerback (at least for this season) because he would have had regular playing time instead of wallowing away on the bench as the third-string quarterback.

Two kids on the JV who particularly stood out play in the secondary, which has been an area of serious need for Cy Woods in recent years. Deontae Cook and Jamil Akum were a pair of headhunters on the Cardinal team. They both look the part, and it wouldn't surprise me if they nabbed starting spots in 2017. That's about all I have as far as a scouting report since I did not really get to see this team a lot.

Christian Scott, a running back, is probably Cy Woods' top prospect in the Class of 2020. I think he'll make a push for some playing time on varsity; he might make the team to begin the year. His frame is sort of reminiscent of Samuel Stewart when he was a freshman, and he could become that every-down running back that Sam was.

Jackson Jones, a quarterback, finished the season in a platoon on the JV cardinal team after starting on the Freshman cardinal team. His older brother, Jake, was a starting cornerback in 2014. Jackson has the frame and the dual-threat capability that the Wildcats covet in their quarterbacks. He could break in as a receiver while he waits for his opportunity under center or continues to get reps at quarterback with another season on the JV.

The Wildcats are certainly in a rebuilding phase, and this spring will give the coaching staff a long look towards who they can count on to be on the field in 2017.

Issues

1. The offense

The Cy Woods offense, which was once arguably the most feared unit in Texas, was a shadow of its former self in 2016.

Then again, it would probably be reasonable to expect an offense playing nine sophomores to struggle. These kids were thrust into the fire, and predictably, they showed flashes of their upside while struggling to adapt to the speed of varsity football.

In terms of offensive yards per game, the Wildcats had the second-fewest in District 17-6A. The most significant factor to these struggles was an anemic running game that suffered grievously from the absence of C.J. Jones. They did not have anyone to fill the void at running back until Jack Barrientez, who moved back to his original position, found his footing late in the season.

I would imagine that the passing game gets re-tooled, as well. In terms of size, the receivers coming back are the biggest that Woods has ever had, so I think they could start taking more shots down the field. The Sherrill twins present serious matchup problems for any defensive back and Angel Laca brings track speed to the table.

These three can stretch the field, but the ball needs to get to them on a more consistent basis. The Wildcats used three quarterbacks and three other players recorded a pass attempt in 2016. Collectively, they completed less than 50% of their passes, and they were the only team in the district to hold this dubious distinction.

The offense also needs to stay on the field. Cy Woods' 31.1% third-down conversion rate on offense was the worst in the district. They faced third down 122 times, which was the fourth-most in District 17-6A, and converted 38 of those situations, which was the third-fewest. A young offense needed to find its rhythm, but unfortunately, they rarely found it because they had to get off the field after failing to convert on third down time and again.

Unlike 2016, where virtually everyone on offense not named C.J. Jones was an unknown commodity entering the season, Cy Woods will not have to lean on one single player to carry the burden of playmaking while the others try to adjust to the varsity level in 2017. Jack Barrientez will enter the season as the focal point of the offense, but fortunately, the majority of his supporting cast will have a year of varsity experience.

2. The defense

The Wildcats were once again at or near the bottom of the district rankings when it comes to defense. At this point, I think I have run out of original things to say about the defensive struggles.

Cy Woods will not only have to replace a majority of their starters from 2016, they will have to bring in an entirely new cast of characters (yet again) as only six players will return on this side of the ball in 2017.

On paper, it looks like the secondary should finally have a few more playmakers. Collin Fewox and Tory Spears should form one of the top safety tandems in the district in 2017, while Matt Roberts returns as a backup at cornerback. Jamil Akum and Deontae Cook, who I have already mentioned, should bring a physical edge that Cy Woods has sorely needed from its secondary players.

The front seven, on the other hand, will have to be rebuilt from the ground up. Christian Jones is the only returning starter on the defensive line. Niko Thompson, Chris Sturghill, and Matt Mori are a few prospects who could join him in the trenches. The linebackers could potentially have four new starters: Tyler Redgrave, the only returning linebacker, will compete for a starting spot with a host of JV players such as Austin Kennedy, Caleb Rutherford, Colin Paterson, and Jackson Turnbow.

As the old saying goes, there's no place to go but up for this defense, but I have my doubts as to whether this defense can make any appreciable improvement. The secondary should improve, but the new faces in the front seven will have to adapt in a hurry. With running backs like Trenton Kennedy, Jaelon Woods, Alex Jacobs, Jireh Thompson, Kendon Flowers, Jack Hook, and whoever Cy Ranch is trotting out all returning in 2017, they will be tested often.

3. Turnovers

No team was intercepted more times than Cy Woods. Overall, the Wildcats committed the second-most turnovers and had the second-worst turnover differential in the district.

Jacob Kainer is a good player, and I still feel that he can be a top player in this district. But, he simply cannot turn the ball over the way he did this past season.

In Closing

Yes, getting back into the top four in 2017 is going to be a Herculean task for Cy Woods football, especially considering how the overall quality of football in Cy-Fair ISD has improved every year. It's not an impossible task, but it is highly improbable.

Everyone has their opinions. I'm just some guy who used to play football at Cy Woods and enjoyed his time as a Wildcat so much that he became the self-appointed historian of the program. I am always the optimist, but even I find that a bit difficult these days... a 2-8 season tends to sap some of the optimism away. Varsity Wires has their way-too-early power rankings and they don't really regard Cy Woods as a playoff team. It's a radical departure from the Cy Woods teams that harbored legitimate state title aspirations, that's for sure. I'm sure that when Dave Campbell's Texas Football releases their high school football preview issue, the Wildcats will most likely occupy one of the bottom four spots in their District 17-6A projection.

Don't get too worked up about what people outside the program are saying about you. Go out and prove them wrong, but remember that you're not going to accomplish this by getting mad about their opinions on social media.

You've heard the spiel about 950,000 times, but it's true: your actions will determine whether you have proven your skeptics wrong. Don't cut corners in workouts and drills. Hit the weight room and the track after school. Hone your skills in 7-on-7 football. Track season is getting underway; ask if you can compete at a meet. That way, you have an opportunity to check out your potential opponents on the football field next season. Yes, the other schools in the district will most likely have football players who are running. jumping, or throwing. Embrace the competition.

Thinking of a state championship at this point.... I hate to say it, is wildly unrealistic. Scale your goals back a little bit. What I feel that the Wildcats should strive for in 2017 is to be a playoff team. Find a way to be a top-four team in this district again. Anything else after that is gravy.

There you have it. Thanks for hanging in there and I appreciate you all for putting up with my nonsensical ranting and raving. Here's hoping that 2017 will be a happier and more satisfying season for Cy Woods football. Go Wildcats.

Golden Eagle Invitational Recap

Cy Woods track and field participated in the Golden Eagle Invitational at Cy Falls on Thursday. While the boys had a pretty rough outing, the girls took first place for the second consecutive meet. As usual, here are some of the highlights from the meet:

- The Alecs were the only first-place finishers on the boys' side. Alec Hernandez won the 800m with a time of 1:58.7. Alec Esposito won the 1600m with a time of 4:35.14, and Sam Covington placed sixth with a time of 4:42.2.

- Tory Spears finished second in the triple jump with a mark of 42'8".

- Angel Laca placed fourth in the 200m with a time of 22.87 seconds.

- Max Sweet finished fifth in the discus and the shot put.

- Braedon Maddox finished fifth in the pole vault by clearing 13'6", setting a new personal best in the process. Trent Bird finished sixth.

The Lady Wildcats put up 114 points, finishing 36 points ahead of the second-placed team, Cy Ranch.

- Kennedy Bailey finished first in the 100m hurdles, as usual. She finished third in the 300m, but nevertheless, the Cats got eight points from the event thanks to Emerald Carter's fifth-place finish.

- Emerald finished fourth in the long jump with a mark of 17'5".

- The 4x100 relay team finished second to the vaunted Hightower team with a time of 48.24 seconds.

- The 3200m proved to be a boon for the Lady Wildcats; they scored 20 points from the event with Lina Spjut's win (12:09), Faithe Green's second-place finish (12:13.08), and Amber Byrd's fifth-place showing (12:24). Amber also took third in the 1600m with a time of 5:31.

- In the throws, Lawrenee Hart won the shot put with a throw of 40 feet, 2.5 inches. Isabelle Faith finished third in the shot put and fourth in the discus, and Rachel Jackson took third in discus.

- Only four girls took part in the pole vault, and Lizzie Bradley cleared 11 feet to finish in second place.

Cy Woods track and field returns to action on Friday, March 3 at Sam Houston State.

2017 Will Taylor Relays

This past Saturday, the Cypress Woods Wildcats track and field team made the journey to Memorial High School to take part in the Will Taylor Relays, and overall, it was a solid Saturday afternoon for both teams. The boys finished fifth as a team. Cy-Fair ISD sent three teams to Memorial; they were the top boys' team, just edging out Cy-Fair by 0.5 points.

On the other hand, the girls took first place with a total of 158 points, finishing ahead of second-placed Katy by 26 points. Here are a few noteworthy performances from Saturday...

- Cy Woods' pole vaulters all set personal bests on the afternoon, including Trent Bird, who tied a school record by clearing 14 feet. He finished third in the competition. Mac Bird and Braeden Maddox both cleared 12 feet, 6 inches.

- Angel Laca continued his strong start to the season by finishing third in the 200m with a time of 22.29 seconds. He had a slight improvement on his time from Cy Ridge.

- After failing to advance out of the heats at Cy Ridge, Vincent Pennington rebounded to finish second in the 110m hurdles. 

- Alec Esposito finished fourth in the 1600m with a time of 4:30.91. The boys won the distance medley relay with a time of 10:42.39.

- Kennedy Bailey notched two more victories in the hurdle events: She won handily in the 100 but had to fend off a late challenge from a Cinco Ranch runner to take the 300.

- Iquo Ating had an impressive showing, leading the Lady Cats to wins in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. She ran an excellent leg in the 4x200 which swung the momentum of the race to the Wildcats. Iquo also won the 100m with a time of 12.39 seconds. Freshman Jordan Perry finished third in the 100m with a time of 12.7 seconds.

- Lawrenee Hart, a junior thrower, finished second in the shot put and fourth in the discus. Cy Woods' girls ended up getting 15 points from the event; Isabelle Faith finished third and Rachel Jackson placed 6th. Rachel also finished second in the discus.

I talked with Coach Crumedy for a little bit while watching the shot put and he tells me that he's still trying to get some of his girls to buy in. From my practice observations, they do play around a bit too much at times. What I saw on Saturday was that he has a solid group that will step up to deliver winning performances. They all had an outstanding showing at Memorial, and they should be proud of getting first place overall. Let's keep it going.

The next meet for Cy Woods track and field is the Golden Eagle Invitational at Cy Falls on Thursday. The sub-varsity has their first meet of the season at Cy-Fair on Wednesday. 

2017 Ram Tough Relays Report

Starting today, this blog will also be a track and field blog.

On Saturday, the Cypress Woods Wildcats participated in their first track meet of the season, the Ram Tough Relays at Cypress Ridge High School. A few Wildcat football players have taken to the track in order to better prepare themselves for the upcoming season, and here is a quick recap with a few notable results.

Angel Laca, a senior wide receiver, won the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.42 seconds. He also ran the first leg of the 4x400-meter relay; the Cats wound up finishing third overall behind Beaumont Central and Langham Creek. Derrick Brooks ran in Angel's heat in the 200 and posted a respectable time of 22.99 seconds.

Matt Mori, a junior defensive lineman, ran the 800 and finished with a time of 2:10 despite a strong start. Though he wasn't pleased with his results, he has been running well in practice, so he should improve upon that time as the season progresses. He might be a candidate to run the 400, as well.

On the girls' side, Jordan Perry, a freshman, won her heat in the 100m and finished sixth in the final. Not a bad result for your first high school track meet. Kennedy Bailey did what she usually does, sweeping the 100m and 300m hurdles.

Cy Woods track and field will return to action at the Will Taylor Relays at Memorial High School on February 18.